WARNING:Travelling to FATA is strongly discouraged. In the southern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the part bordering FATA, it is not safe to travel alone. In FATA, there's high threat of kidnap and an armed conflict is going on involving the military of Pakistan and armed militant groups such as the Taliban.

Eastern and northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are safe to travel as long you take precautionary measures. (Last updated March 2015)

Swat River near Madyan

Northwest Pakistan consists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of Pakistan's four provinces, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a semi-autonomous tribal region. It borders Afghanistan to the west and north, with populous areas on the west and the Wakhan Corridor to the north.

FATA is mostly off-limits to foreigners and does not have a Provincial Government; instead affairs are federally administered through the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. FATA is home to the legendary Khyber Pass, and the gun making city of Darra Adam Khel. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is known as a tourist hotspot for adventurers and explorers.

The region has a varied landscape including rugged mountains, valleys, hills and dense agricultural farms. There are a number of Buddhist archaeological sites from the Gandhara civilisation such as Takht Bhai and Pushkalavati. There are a number of other Buddhist and Hindu archaeological sites including Bala Hisar Fort, Butkara Stupa, Kanishka stupa, Chakdara, Panjkora Valley and Sehri Bahlol.

Peshawar - the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the cultural centre of the region, and the focal point of Pashtun culture. It was the birthplace of the Taliban and is in the midst of an ideological struggle between moderates and extremists.

Abbottabad - a military garrison city, obtaining infamy as the place where Osama bin Laden had been hiding for much of the time following the US invasion of Afghanistan until his death during a raid on his compound by U.S. Navy SEALs.

Swat Valley – one of the most famous and rewarding visitor destinations with the gushing Swat and Ushu rivers, lovely waterfalls, snow covered peaks for skiing, together with some excellent tasting fruits and hospitable people (check current travel advisories first)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offers invitation to a spectacular landscape and cultural diversity. Peshawar is the business and administrative hub of province though other cities have their places. Some of the tourist’s hotspots include Khyber pass, old interior city, industrial estate famous for smuggled goods, Islamia College, Peshawar fort, (KisaKhawani) story teller bazaar. Its food street is famous for barbecued mutton as well as karahi meat. The Khyber Pass leads into Afghanistan. There are very amenable people in this area, especially in the mountains in Shandoor, Kalash regions. The province has an area of 74,521km² (28,773 sq mi) - comparable in size to New England in the United States.

Prior permission from the Pakistani government is required before non-Pakistanis can travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa given the poor security situation in the region. Such permission, known as a No Objection Certificate (NOC), must be obtained from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. Failure to obtain an NOC and attempting to enter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could result in arrest.

Peshawar International Airport (PEW) is located in the center of Peshawar. It is served by all Pakistan carriers including national flag carrier "PIA". Moreover, many Middle East airlines also serve this airport, such as Emirates, Etihad, Gulf, Kuwait and Qatar airlines.

Peshawar airport has international direct flights to Al Ain, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kabul, Muscat, Kuwait and Riyadh. The connections to/from other Asian, European and American cities are available via Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad airports. The domestic flights to/from Peshawar Airport are Chitral, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

In the summertime hiking tours to the mountains are offered. Ask at Green Tours in front of the Greens Hotel, Peshawar Cantt, and Pearl Tours of the Pearl Continental Hotels. This can also be done by hiring a car, jeep or pickup from local 'Rent-a-Car' servicing private agencies at a very cheap rate ranging from USD20-60 per day, depending upon the condition of the vehicle. (prices correct 30 June 2006)

Chappal Kabab, a beef kebab shaped like the sole of a sandal is most famous dish of Peshawar. Several famous kabab selling shops are around. Information about them can be obtained from the travel agents or local hotels and guides.

The restaurants in *Namak Mandi serve marvellous tikka and karai. Meat is ordered by the kilogram, and then prepared according to your preference, either as tikka (barbecued) or as karai (an oil-rich stew with tomato and chili).

Faluda, a sweet dish mainly found on the Peshawar markets and bazaars especially Qisa-Khwani Bazaar.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an exceptionally dangerous area. The locals have a long history of tribal warfare and banditry, both of which still go on, and they have been fighting off various invaders since Alexander the Great. The main fighting today is the Taliban versus the Pakistani military, but there are other dangers as well: al-Qaeda, various tribal forces, and US drones.

Terror attacks and political assassinations are a common occurrence in the region. Between 2007 and 2012, there were a recorded 186 suicide attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than the total number of suicide attacks in all other areas of Pakistan. Before going to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat, and Peshawar, check for travel advisories from your government.

The towns bordering tribal areas are not considered particularly safe, and nor are the Afghan-Pakistan border regions, as the Pakistan government has little to no authority in these areas and cannot aid you in an emergency. You should always seek information about off-limits areas before travelling to this region. Prior permission from the Pakistani government is required before non-Pakistanis can travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa given the poor security situation in the region. Such permission, known as a No Objection Certificate (NOC), must be obtained from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. Attempting to enter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without an NOC could result in arrest.

The Pakistani Army is currently carrying out an offensive against TTP and other militants in this area. This activity has caused the displacement of over two million people. If you must travel here, please see war zone safety.

The tribal areas are generally not considered a tourist destination and for good reason. While there are many good people living in these areas, there are also a fair share of those willing to cause trouble to foreigners, and there's little than can be done to help you if you're in trouble – don't expect your embassy to come to your rescue either. Travellers to Landi Kotal and the Khyber Pass require an armed escort and a permit – you won't get through without these, so don't waste your time trying. Dara Adam Khel also attracts a handful of travellers to visit the gun manufacturing, but the same risks apply there: use caution.

The U.S. military is currently carrying out a bombing campaign in this area. American armed drones are highly active in this area. The robotic aircraft are heavily loaded with weapons and will open fire on anyone who they believe to be members of Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

Several tips:

Drones are characterised by the loud buzzing noise that they make, similar to that made by a bee or a lawnmower. You may also see the aircraft circling overhead.

DO NOT perform the following actions; Lay down and drop something on a road (it looks like you are laying an IED), run, point at the aircraft. These actions may result in the aircraft opening fire. Just pretend that you don't see the aircraft and that you are having a normal day.

Stay away from anyone who you suspect to be a member of Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. They WILL be targeted, and if you are near them you will be caught in the blast radius of the aircraft's weapons.